Lily Potter and The Pearl of Fate

Chapter 2: Breakout

The castle faded in the distance, as Albus boarded the Hogwarts Express once again. It is the holidays. He reassured himself. He knew that living with the Slytherins for a long period of time won't help him at all. Even though he could not stop himself from being friends with them. After all, they were helping each other all along throughout the year.

***

Time flew like a fast streamed river. Miles away Hogwarts, in Godric's Hollow, Lily woke to a magnificent scene outside the window, with the golden sun shining high above. She smiled. Just another perfect day, and it wasn't as if it was a normal day. She knew, boiling with excitement, that she could finally go to Hogwarts. Ginny gave her a helping hand to search for a suitable trunk. Lily could not believe her luck, that she was a witch, that she was going to Hogwarts the day after tomorrow.

"Why aren't you visiting Malfoy, huh?" James giggled, an awkward smile lingering on his face.

Albus giggled at James and his eyes narrowed with anger. He hollered, "What's wrong with being friends with Malfoy?"
Harry sighed at the boys and shook his head, but he could not prevent himself from finding it quite funny. "Why don't one of you go get the Daily Prophet?

James trudged outside. His mischievous grin was still lying on his face as he pretended to read. "Hey Dad! Voldy just resurrected!! Voldemort resurrected!!!" he shouted.
"Your jokes are getting old now." Ginny commented while cooking their delicious breakfast.

James handed the Daily Prophet to Harry with a cheeky grin from ear to ear. Harry's eyes bulged out and his jaw gaped when he spotted the title. He gasped. Ginny turned around with not a slightest clue what was written. 

"What is it, Harry?" she questioned curiously.

"I am going to read this out to you. Massive Breakout from Azkaban. 30 Deaths Eaters escaped, and there are only 4 old ones left. We have not yet discovered how they did it, but we know that there are heading north, maybe to Hogwarts. It is not clear. The Ministry of Magic will send the following witches and wizards that have once helped us greatly to follow the Death Eaters And discover what they are doing. Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom (will be at Hogwarts as a professor), Ginevra Weasley, Luna Lovegood, George Weasley and Angelina Johnson."

"Yes. It has happened, Ginny."

"Oh, Harry..."

Lily observed Ginny's shocked yet worried look, and witnessed James' and Albus' silence. She knew it. She knew that peace cannot be guaranteed forever, that bad things happen every day, that she must for once or twice, save her friends, or maybe even the world. Keep calm, she told herself. Keep calm.

"I have to discuss this with Ron and Hermione." Harry said quietly, breaking the sudden silence.

Lily nodded. Even though she was two years younger than Albus, she felt that she had something special in her - a boiling and curious sensation wiping through her body all the time.

***

"Now, speak very carefully, Lily. You don't want to end up in a weird place not knowing where to go." Harry warned her, remembering what had happened when he first used it.

"Daddy, so do I just speak to the floo powder?" Lily innocently asked.

Harry nodded as Lily walked into the fireplace.

"The Burrow!" Lily demanded.

She twisted and turned and she felt like vomiting, but after seconds, she was use to it. She could feel the wind slashing at her face and she hoped, wished that she had narrated the right words. Abruptly, she was squashed into a narrow pipe and she fell on the ground with smoke and ash smothering her face. Lily's eyes sight was blurring and all she could feel is a soft carpet underneath her.

"What's that noise?" A high-pitched voice questioned as footsteps sounded downstairs.

Finally, Lily's vision was back in place and she thought she recognised that woman - her aunt Hermione.

"Lily? Is that you? You've grown so much since you last came." Hermione giggled as she helped her up. A loud noise came from the chimney again. Harry tumbled down but because he was more use to floo powder, he stood up quickly and put his glasses back in place.

"Harry!" Hermione was astonished as she hugged him tightly like a mother seeing her son back from war.

Another rumbling sound came down the chimney and the rest of the Potter family arrived.

"Hermione, I'm sorry that I didn't tell you why we are coming-" But before Harry even finish his sentence, Hermione strolled away and filled three cups of butterbeer.

"Come on Ginny, sit down with us. Ron!" Hermione suggested.

Ron came bolting down the stairs and halted with excitement.

"Harry!"

"You little thing, can't you hear him from upstairs?" Hermione said in frustration. 

"Well, did you read the Daily Prophet?" asked Harry impatiently, eyeing Ron and Hermione.

"No-" Ron started. But Hermione had cut Ron's answer. 

"Excuse him, Harry. I have. I was about to write to you about this. It's just that Ron had been busy helping Hugo with his stuff." Hermione stated earnestly. She picked up the Daily Prophet from the sofa. 

"Let's go to Diagon Alley to find George and Angelina tomorrow to discuss. By the way, have you guys helped Lily to buy her stuff yet? Hugo hasn't, and I am planning to take him there either today or tomorrow." Ron added.

Lily had never felt so excited yet adventurous before. She knew she might be going to have fun tomorrow at Diagon Alley, but instincts told her that something bad would happen. And she wasn't sure why she felt like that.